Table



Jan. 27, 1942.` J. c. VIEHMAN|\|A TABLE Filed Jllly 24, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet l lNvENvToR JOHN C.V|EHMANN BY frm/,-

ATTORNEYS rJan. 27, 1942. l J. c. VIEHMANN I 2,271,448

TABLE Filed July 24, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 3

Fig. I3 Fig. I4 n INVENTOR JOHN C. VIEHMANN ATTORNEYS lJan. 27, 1942. J. c. VIEHMANN 2,271,448

INVENTOR JOHN C. VIEHMANN BY n ATTRNEYs- Patented Jan. 27, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFF-ICE 2,271,448 'TABLE John C. Viehmann, Flushing, .N. Y. v

Application July 24, 1940, Serial No. 347,165

6 Claims.

This invention relates to tables, and more particularly to an extensible table having a double top.

The primary object of my invention is to generally improve extension tables. A more particular object is to provide an improved table somewhat akin to and which may be used in place of the so-called book-top table. The latter requires three finished surfaces for the table top, whereas my improved table requires only two nished surfaces. This reduces the cost of manufacture, or for equal cost the table may be improved as, for example, by using two synthetic resin surfaces, instead of one such surface and two wooden surfaces. desired protection of the Bakelite impregnated or other protected surface when using the table in extended as Well as contracted condition.

Further-'and more detailed objects of my invention are to dispense with the use of hinges for the table top and to instead provide a sliding movement; to provide means to bring the two tops to a common level when the table isextended; to provide means for holding the table tops solidly or steadily in either open or closed position; to avoid scratching of one top by the other; and to provide an edge of uniform appearance around the entire table top.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and other more specific objects which will hereinafter appear, my invention consists in the extension table elements and their relation one to the other as hereinafter are more particularly described in the specification and sought to be defined in the claims.' The specification is accompanied by drawings, in which:

Fig, 1 is a perspective view of a table ing features of my invention;

Fig. 2 is an inverted horizontal section taken approximately in the plane of the line 2 2 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 3 is a transverse section through the table near one end taken approximately in the plane of the line 3-3 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the relation embodyof the parts during opening of the table;

Fig. 5 is a similar View showing the table in open` or extended condition;

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section taken in elevation through the table approximately in the plane of the line 6 6 of Fig. 2;

Fig, 7 is a bottom view of the table top with attached slides;

Fig. 8 is a bottom view of the subtop with attached blocks;

Fig. 9 is a schematic sectional view explana- -W- tory of the operation of the top;

Fig, 10 is a schematic sectional view explanatory of the operation of the subtop;

Fig. 11 is a perspective view showing the relation of the guides for the top and the subtop;

Fig. 12 is explanatory of a detail;

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary inverted plan view of a modification using simple straight corner legs; and

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary side elevation of the modification.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly Fig. 1, the table there illustrated com- This aifords the 1'5f prises a frame generally designated I2 supported by legs I4, the latter being provided, if desired, with a suitable spreader IE. The table is preferably rectangular in configuration, and the frame I2 comprises rails I8 and 2U, the former being longer than the latter. Frame I2 supports a double table top, the two tops being substantially equal in area. For purposes of clarity in the following description, the upper top 22 is referred to as the table top, while the lower top 24 is referred to as a subtop. The top and subtop are slidable relative to the frame, the top being pulled in one direction for about half its width, and the subtop in opposite direction for about half its width until the top and subtop come in edge to edge relation. This provides a table of about double the original area. y

Fig. 3 is a transverse section showing the table in closed condition, the top 22 being located drectly over the subtop 24. Fig. 4 shows the table in the course of opening the same, the top 22 being slid toward the left under support and guidance of a pair of preferably Widely spaced slides 26. (The parts usedin multiple will be referred to as plural, although only one such 0 part is visible in Figs. 3, 4, and 5 of the drawings.) The subtop 24 is slid toward the right under the support of blocks 23 which cooperate with tracks 30 extending across the table frame, preferably flush Awith the upper edges of the rails I8. The blocks 28 are preferably L-shaped in cross section, so that they bear against one side and also the bottom of the tracks 30, as is clearly shown in Figs, 6 and 11. The top 22 is preferably loosely or oscillatably secured to the outer ends of the slides 26, so that the top may be raised somewhat, as is shown in Fig. 4, when opening the table. This is of convenience in handling the top during the opening operation, and also has the advantage of preventing possible scratching of the subtop by the underside of the top.

In Fig. 5 the table has been extended, the subtop 24 being slid toward the right for about half its width, its motion being determined and limited by the blocks 28 previously referred to, the right-hand end of the blocks bearing against the inner wall of rail I8, as is clearly shown in the drawings. The top 22 has been slid to the left, its motion being limited by small stops 32 secured to slides 26. It will be observed that the slides 26 have now assumed a slight downward inclination, the amount of which is so determined as to lower the top 22 by the amount of its own thickness, thus bringing the top into edge to edge relation with the subtop 24. From a different viewpoint it may be said that while the right-hand edge of the top 22 is lowered to rest on the frame or rails in edge to edge relation with the subtop 24, the outer or left-hand edge of top 22 is lowered (by the angularity of the slides 26) enough to hold the top 22 level. The exact angularity of the slides is determined by slide blocks 34 which bear against the bottom of tracks 36. The upper edges of slides 26 are cut away at an angle, as is indicated at 35 in Figs. 3, 4, and 5, in order to accommodate the inclination of the slides.

One of the rails I8 is notched at its upper edge to receive the slides 26. The notches have a width equal tothe thickness of the slides, so as to accurately guide the same without sideward movement. The notches are preferably made equal in depth to the slides, so that the latter assume a horizontal position when the table is closed. In order to facilitate connection of the slides 26 to the top 22 without marring the appearance of the table, the top 22 is preferably provided with a strip 36 secured beneath its outer edge and constituting a false edge for the subtop 24. The strip 36 is made equal in thickness to the subtop 24, and in practice two similar complete tops may be employed, one of which is preliminarily cut near one edge to provide the strip 26 and the subtop 24, the strip 36 then being secured beneath the top 22. When the table is closed it appears to have a uniform edge on all sides.v

The slides 26 are preferably located as far apart as possible in order to provide a steady or rigid mounting for the top when the table is open.

Thus in Fig. 6 the slides 26 are located outside the tracks 36 and are very near the end rails 20. Because the outer ends of the slides are relatively loosely connected to the top, the inner ends may be rigi ly connected together as by means of a fiat extensive piece of thin wood or ply wood 46. Additional guidance of the slides is provided by their passage through notches in the rail of the table and by the cooperation of the slide blocks 34 with the tracks.

In order to prevent or limit upward movement of the outer edge of top 22, I prefer to employ auxiliary tracks 42 which are secured to the end rails 26. These limit downward movement of the slide blocks 34 as is best shown in Figs. 3 and 4. When the table is fully extended a slight upward movement of top '22 can take place, but the amount is limited to the relatively small clearance between block 34 and auxiliary tracks 42.

The top 22 and associated parts are shown in inverted position in Fig. 7. The structure is quite simple, it comprising merely the top 22, the false edge or strip 36, the slides 26, the cross section 46, the slide blocks 34, and the stops 32. The subtop and associated parts are shown in inverted position in Fig. 8, there being simply the subtop 24 and the two L-shaped blocks 28. Fig. 10 shows the subtop 24 with its block 28 cooperating with track 36, the latter extending between the table rails I8 and forming a part of the table frame. Fig. 9 shows the top 22 with its slide 26 received in a recess 44 in rail I8, the slide being loosely connected by a single loose screw 46 to top 22 at the false edge 36. A piece of track 36 is shown in order to bring out its cooperation with the slide block 34.

The manner in which the two blocks cooperate with the single track 36 without relative interference will be clear from inspection of Fig. 11 in which it will be seen that the L-shaped blocks 28 of the subtop 24 engages track 36 at one side and on the bottom. The slide 26 and slide block 34 engage the track 36 at the opposite side and on the bottom. The engagement with the bottom of the track amounts to less than half the width of the track. Hence, the two blocks may freely pass one another as they move along the track 36. This is important because, as will be seen in Fig. 3, when the table is closed the block 28 is at the left, while the block 34 it at the right. On the other hand, when the table is open, as in Fig. 5, the block 28 is at the right andthe block 34 it at the left, these blocks passing one another during the opening operation as is shown in Fig. 4.

With the present table only the upper surfaces and the outer edges of the top and subtop need to be finished. The advantage of finishing only two surfaces, instead of three surfaces, is important whether the top be of wood, porcelain, or the popular synthetic resin impregnated surfaces such as Bakelite or Formica In fact, in order to conserve expense the book-top tables have often been made with one synthetic resin surface for the top when closed and two wood finished surfaces for the top when opened. Thus the important protection afforded by the synthetic resin surface is obtained only when the top is closed.l With the present table the top and subtop may both be finished with a synthetic resin surface at an expense no greater than that needed for one synthetic resin surface and two wood finished surfaces, and the table is accordingly provided with a protective surface whether used in closed or opened condition. This is clearly shown in Figs. 3 through 6 in which the protected top and edge surfaces for the top and subtop are indicated in the drawings.

With a synthetic resin surface there is nodan- ,ger of scratching, because the bottom surface of the top is wood and softer than the top surface of the` subtop. However, if additional protection is desired, small pads or inserts may be provided at the bottom of thevtop as is indicated at` 56 in Fig. 12. The pad 56 may, for example, be made of felt, and holds top 22 off subtop 24. Such felt pads may be used with wood finished surfaces or With impregnated surfaces. In the latter case a pad of similar material, for example, a pad of Formica, when the finish is Formica, may be employed because a Formica surface will not scratch another Formica surface.

The remaining structure of the table may be conventional and requires little description. In the present case the curved legs I4 are secured at their upper ends to heavy cross bars 52 (Fig. 2) which in turn are secured to the rails of the table. However, a simpler and less expensive structure `may be made with simpler straight corner legs. Referring to Fig. 2, it 'may be ex- 'planed that in the present case the corner blocks 54 of the frame are held in position by metal brackets 56 and bolts 58. To use straight legs, it is merely necessary to substitute a full length leg for the short blocks 54. This is indicated in Figs. 13 and 14 in which the leg 6D is held against the ends of the rails I8 and 20 by the use of a conventional 'bracket 56 and bolt 58. It will be clear that the change in leg construction in no way alects the structure or operation of the extensible top.

The particular table here illustrated is provided with a drawer 62 (Fig. 1), the latter being guided by suitable drawer guides 64 (Figs. 2 and 6). The drawer passes through one of the rails I8, the latter .being appropriately cut away for that purpose.

It is believed that the construction and operation, as well as the many advantages of my improved extension table will be apparent from the foregoing detailed description thereof. Although the table has been described as being rectangular, with the tops moving transversely of their greater dimension, it will be understood that such an arrangement is merely the more generally useful and convenient arrangement. The table may also be made square when closed in which case it would be approximately twice as big in the long direction when open. In fact, on purely theoretical considerations, there is no reason why the table might not be rectangular when closed with the tops being moved in their long direction instead of transversely of the long direction, but ordinarily there is little need or demand for the resulting excessively long and narrow table when open. It will be apparent that while I have shown and described my invention in a preferred form, many changes and modifications may be made in the structure disclosed without departing from the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. A table comprising a frame including rails, legs supporting said frame, a top, a substantially full area subtop, said top and subtop being finished on their upper face, horizontally slidable means whereby said subtop may be pulled horizontally outwardly to about half its width, slides :for the top, the outer ends of the slides being connected to the top, and the inner ends of the slides being so located and dimensioned as to afford a slight lowering of the outer ends of the slides when the top is pulled outwardly to about half its width, whereby the top is lowered to rest horizontally on the rails in the same horizontal plane as the subtop, so that they meet in edge to edge relation.

2. A table comprising a frame including rails, legs supporting said frame, a rectangular top, a substantially full area subtop, said top and subtop being nished on their upper face, tracks extending across the frame in the short direction of the table, L-shaped blocks secured to the subtop and cooperating with the tracks on one side and bottom whereby said subtop may be pulled horizontally outwardly to about half its Width, slides for the top, one of the long rails of the table being notched at its upper edge to receive the slides, the outer ends of the slides being connected to the top, and the inner ends of the slides being so located and dimensioned as to alford a slight lowering of the outer ends of the slides when the top is pulled outwardly to about half its Width, whereby the top is lowered to rest horizontally on the rails in the same horzontal plane as the subtop, the'top and subtop meeting in edge to edge relation.

3. A table comprisinga frame including rails, legs supportingv said frame, a top, a substantially full area subtop, said top and subtop being nished on their upper face, tracks extending across the frame, L-shaped blocks secured to the subtop and cooperating with the tracks on one side and bottom whereby said subtop may be pulled outwardly to about half its width, slides for the top, the outer ends of the slides being connected to the top, and the inner ends of the slides being provided with slide blocks cooperating with the opposite side and the bottom of said tracks, the slide blocks being so located and dimensioned as to afford a slight lowering of the slides when the top is pulled outwardly to about half its width, whereby the top is lowered to rest horizontally on the rails in the same horizontal plane as the subtop, the top and subtop meeting in edge to edge relation.

4. A table comprising a frame, legs supporting th'e same, a top, a substantially full area subtop, said top and subtop both being finished on their upper faces, a false edge or strip secured to the top beneath one edge only of the top and having the same thickness as the subtop, the subtop being equal in length to the top and less in width than the top by only the amount of the false edge, means whereby the subtop may be slid outwardly about half its width, slides for the top, the outer ends of said slides being secured to the bottom of said false strip, and means cooperating with said slides to so dispose the slides as to bring the top into a common plane with the subtop when the table is opened.

5. A table comprising a frame, legs supporting the same, a top, a substantially full area subtop, said top and subtop both being finished on their upper faces, a false edge or strip secured to the top beneath one edge of the top and having the same thickness as the subtop, the subtop being less in width than the top by only the amount of the false edge, whereby the subtop may be slid outwardly about half its width, slides for the top, the outer ends of said slides being secured to the bottom of said false strip, the inner ends of said slides being provided with means whereby the slides may assume a downward inclination when the top is drawn outwardly so as to bring it into the same horizontal plane as the subtop so that they meet in edge to edge relation.

6. A table comprising a frame including rails, legs supporting said frame, a top, a substantially full area subtop, said top and subtop both being finished on their upper faces, a false edge or strip secured to the top beneath one edge of the top and `having the same thickness as the subtop, the subtop being less in width Ithan the top by the amount of the false edge, tracks extending across the table, L-shaped blocks secured to the subtop and cooperating with the tracks, whereby said subtop may be pulled outwardly to about half its width, slides for the top, the outer ends of the slides being secured to the bottom of said false strip and the inner ends of the slides being provided with slide blocks cooperating with said tracks, the slide blocks being so located and dimensioned as to afford a slight downward inclination of the slides when the top is pulled outwardly to about half its width, whereby the top is lowered to rest on the rails in the same horizontal plane as the subtop, so that they meet in edge to edge relation. l

JOHN C. VEHMANN, 

